In a candid conversation with Rio Ferdinand, Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta opened up about his relationship with Diego Maradona and the profound pain he felt surrounding his passing.
Now 57, the former striker who starred for clubs like Newell’s Old Boys, Boca Juniors, River Plate, Fiorentina, and AS Roma reflected on the icon who defined a generation.
“He died alone like a dog,” Batistuta lamented, starkly recalling Maradona’s final days. The direct and heartbreaking statement set the tone for a deep reflection on the environment surrounding ‘The Pelusa’ throughout his life.
“Nobody told him ‘no’ when he was young. Everything was okay. That was a big mistake,” he said of Maradona, with whom he played alongside at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
“It’s dangerous for a human to have that,” Ferdinand added, echoing the sentiment about the dangers of unchecked adoration.
Beyond analysis, ‘Batigol’ also offered self-criticism and emotion. “It’s a shame, because he was a great person. And he died alone,” he said.
“There was nobody with him. He died like a dog. I blame myself too, because I could have been one of his supports. If you like someone, you can help them when they need it,” he added.
The conversation also touched on the inevitable debate in Argentine football: the comparison between Maradona and Lionel Messi.
Without avoiding the topic, Batistuta stated, “Maradona and Messi are different. Messi has scored 1000 goals and Maradona, 200. Messi is a quiet boy, Maradona wasn’t. Maradona was and is the top, because he could play, he could manage the referee, the opponents, he was capable of incredible things. Messi can do it, but I think he doesn’t have the same charisma.”
“Yalnız öldü. Bir köpek gibi”
Gabriel Batistuta, Rio Ferdinand ile Diego Maradona hakkında konuşuyor.
pic.twitter.com/wWzfJwzE9m— Kapitano Sports (@kapitanosport) March 26, 2026
